Top News:
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Season ends for Carpenter — ATLANTA — The Cardinals on Thursday announced Chris Carpenter's season is over. — Carpenter, who has not made a major-league start since opening day, will undergo additional elbow surgery next week that will end his season and cost him a significant portion …
RELATED:
Rob Bradford / Boston Herald:
Stranded in quicksand: Sox sinking as lost chances mount — Four batters painted an all too familiar picture for the Red Sox [team stats] last night. — The frustration of the Sox' recent rough patch reached a crescendo during the seventh inning of the 4-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park [map].
RELATED:
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Red Sox can't plug up leaks — Offense remains all wet after delay — Red Sox fan and Brookline native Conan O'Brien was in the on-deck circle by the time last night's game lurched into the bottom of the ninth, rain having delayed the start until 9:01. — But a half-hour after midnight, the Sox needed a home run, not a one-liner.
Discussion:
Boston Sports Media Watch
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Analysis: Pirates set stage to sell off Wilson, others — Acquire shortstop Izturis from Cubs for cash, minor-leaguer — Has the sale begun? — The Pirates apparently have started the process of trading shortstop Jack Wilson, their most tenured and highest-paid player …
RELATED:
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:Pirates acquire shortstop Izturis from Cubs
Discussion:
Blue-Collar Baseball, Pittsburgh Lumber Co., 6-4-2, Bucs Dugout, The Parrot and Honest Wagner
George King / New York Post:
SCOUTS FLOCK INTO STADIUM — The Yankees continue to talk to the Dodgers about utilityman Wilson Betemit, but the Dodgers are also chatting with the Royals about reliever Octavio Dotel, whom they like a little bit better than Scott Proctor. — The Dodgers had scout Mark Weidemaier at Yankee Stadium yesterday.
RELATED:
Jeré Longman / New York Times:
Fit Young Pitchers See Elbow Repair as Cure-All — While examining a 17-year-old pitcher for a knee injury last year in Nashville, Dr. Damon H. Petty was asked a chilling question by the teenager and his father: If reconstructive elbow surgery were performed on his healthy throwing arm, might he gain some speed on his fastball?
Jeff Horrigan / Boston Herald:
Lester willing, able: Ready to answer call — PAWTUCKET, R.I. - Considering he was a bit preoccupied by pitching seven strong innings in Triple-A Pawtucket's 9-4 victory against Ottawa on Wednesday night, Jon Lester [stats] can be excused for being unaware that the topic …
Discussion:
Peter's Red Sox Forever
Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Patience pays off for Dodgers hitters — They're taking more pitches under Mueller, who doesn't take credit for offensive surge. — Bill Mueller doesn't want to take credit for the Dodgers' offensive surge in recent weeks, but the empirical evidence indicates that the team has been more patient …
Discussion:
Dodger Thoughts
Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Rainiers buzzed by Bees — SALT LAKE CITY — Ryan Budde's run-scoring single capped off a four-run, seventh-inning comeback as the Salt Lake Bees edged the Tacoma Rainiers 9-8 on Thursday night in Pacific Coast League play. — Weak hit derails Yankees' run
Discussion:
Associated Press
MLB.com:
Tigers surpass all-time attendance record — Sales for 2007 top 1984 world championship season — DETROIT — Through the close of business on Wednesday, sales of Tigers tickets for the 2007 season surpassed the previous club record total, which was set in the 1984 World Championship season at Tiger Stadium.
Discussion:
TigerBlog
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Jimenez Has At-Bat That's Above His Average — The words could have sounded hollow coming from D'Angelo Jimenez, who had been to the plate 25 times as a Washington National and had all of one hit. That .040 average glared from the scoreboard above, mocking him. But just yesterday afternoon, he boasted to Manager Manny Acta.
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Notes: Dunn meets with Mackanin — Left fielder doesn't like coming out of games early — MIAMI — The timing was uncanny and entirely coincidental. — An unfounded trade rumor had circulated Thursday morning reporting that Reds left fielder Adam Dunn was traded to the Brewers.
Patrick DiCaprio / The Fantasy Baseball Generals:
What If The Astros Drafted Derek Jeter?? — What would have happened if the Astros drafted Derek Jeter as Hal Newhouser insisted?? I try to quantify what would, and could, have occurred. — Those readers who are even vaguely interested in baseball history undoubtedly know Hal Newhouser.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
Irv Moss / Denver Post:
Rockies' Hirsh battered in rehab start — Colorado Springs - Rockies right-hander Jason Hirsh was roughed up in the second inning of a rehabilitation start today for the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox. — After retiring all three hitters in the first inning, Hirsh surrendered hits …
Sports Illustrated:
Hug it out — Minaya, Randolph not feuding over Down firing — Also in this column: — Contrary to reports and speculation, insiders insist there is no rift between Mets GM Omar Minaya and manager Willie Randolph over last week's firing of hitting coach Rick Down.
